After four years of comparative peace in the hard coal fields, public interest again centers upon the anthracite industry. The present wage contract between operators and miners expires on August 31 of this year This agreement was signed in February, 1926, after 145,000 miners had been on strike for 170 days—the longest suspension in the history of the industry. At some date during the next two months representatives of the operators and miners will meet to negotiate a new contract. Upon the outcome of these negotiations depends the immediate, and perhaps more distant, future of the anthracite industry.

A breakdown of the anthracite negotiations, followed by a strike affecting the 160,000 men employed in the industry, might seriously retard the full recovery of general business now predicted for September. It is estimated that not fewer than 750,000 persons are directly dependent upon the wages of the anthracite miners. To these must be added the remainder of the population of the anthracite region, engaged in serving the needs of the miners find the industry. In all, approximately 2,000,000 persons are dependent upon anthracite, directly or indirectly, for a livelihood.

Anthracite Negotiations and Business Recovery

The important indexes of business at present show a mixed picture of recoveries and losses. The existing situation is very different from that which prevailed at the time of the last anthracite strike, in 1925–26, when business was moving along at a high level of prosperity. It is generally asserted by business forecasters that full recovery is likely to suffer a serious check if the purchasing power of so large a group as the population of the anthracite region is materially reduced for any extended period. The effects of a strike would not be local, but would extend first to the anthracite-carrying railroads and later to manufacturing districts. With negotiations taking place at a time when the industrial structure is unusually sensitive, their progress will be followed with close attention by government officials and all others seeking a return of general business to prosperity levels.